History of the Statue of Liberty

A statue of a pale lady stands against the shadowscreating the first public monument which was a statue
of New York skyline holding a torch in one hand withof General Jean Rapp. The statue was his claim of
an arm raised and clutching a nook close to her breast.fame.
Her face is etched with an expression of hope andThe Neoclassical art of the 19th century had influenced
she faces towards the Atlantic Ocean. This statue ofthe appearance of the Statue of Liberty. Bartholdi had
the lady is the ever famous ‘Statue of Liberty'. It ispatterned her in memory of the goddess of freedom
a symbol of hope and peace that was gifted by thecalled Libertas. He learned the real meaning of
French to the American people.‘liberty' from his past experience of
France and the Unites States had developed aFranco-Prussian war.
formidable friendship during the American RevolutionPartially as a propaganda to further the cause of
because the French had supported Americans againstthose seeking to create a French Republic, Laboulaye
the British rule. This historical event led France tosuggested Bartholdi to travel to America. Equipped
develop a respect for America's success withwith letters of introduction from Laboulaye to some of
establishing democracy.America's influential men, he sailed to New York in 1871.
After a hundred years, this admiration became a topicBartholdi became successful in time and work on the
for a small group of French intellectuals at a partyproject started. Richard Morris Hunt was the architect
hosted by a well known personality Edouard Renefor the 89 foot high pedestal. The engineer for the
Lefebvre de Laboulaye. This group comprised ofstatue was Alexandre Gustave Eiffel of the famed
individuals who were opposed to the regime ofEiffel Tower. General Charles P. Stone was
Napoleon III.responsible for the construction of the entire project.
The talk was focused on close ties between FranceGaget, Gauthier and Company in France served as
and America. There was sympathy and admiration infoundry for the sculpture.
the voices of the guests. Laboulaye observed thisStatue of Liberty is the first statue that visitors can
sympathy between the two nations and called themclimb inside with a steel ladder to the balcony around
the two sisters. Looking forward towards thethe torch. The head of the statue is made of copper,
America's independence celebrations, Laboulayeits foundation has 24,000 tons of concrete which was
thought of an idea to present US with a lastingthe largest poured at that time. The height of the
memorial. One of the guest, Frederic-Auguste Bartholdistatue is 52 feet, 10 inches. The bottom measures 91
was impressed with Laboulaye's idea. He was afeet and the top measures 65 feet. The Statue of
sculptor and was deeply interested to create theLiberty was declared as a a national monument by
masterpiece.President Calvin Coolidge in October 1924. The
Success in grand projects encouraged Bartholdi toNational Park Service finally took over its maintenance
create the Statue of Liberty's colossal size. He hadand administration in 1933.
received his first commission at an early age for